How to Describe Symptoms in French: Common Phrases Doctors Expect to Hear

If you’re living in France, visiting a French-speaking country, or translating medical documents, knowing how to describe symptoms in French can make the difference between confusion and accurate care.

Most people don’t search for “medical vocabulary.” They try to search for specific phrases such as:

• “How do I explain pain in French?”

• “How do I tell a doctor my stomach hurts?”

• “What is sharp pain in French?”

This guide walks you through the exact French medical phrases doctors expect to hear, including how to describe pain type, severity, duration, and common digestive, respiratory, and neurological symptoms  -  plus common mistakes English speakers make - making it easier than simply having to search for every individual phrase you may need to use.

1. How to Describe Pain in French

Doctors don’t just want to know that you’re in pain  -  they want to know what kind of pain.

In French, you’ll usually begin with:

• J’ai mal à… – I have pain in…

  • J’ai mal à la tête. (I have a headache.)

  • J’ai mal au ventre. (My stomach hurts.)

  • J’ai mal au dos. (My back hurts.)

But that’s only the beginning. The key is describing the type of pain.

🔹 Sharp Pain

• Une douleur aiguë – Sharp pain

• Une douleur vive – Intense/sharp pain

Example:

C’est une douleur aiguë dans le bas du dos.It’s a sharp pain in the lower back.

🔹 Dull Pain

• Une douleur sourde – Dull pain

Example:

J’ai une douleur sourde dans l’épaule depuis hier.I’ve had a dull shoulder pain since yesterday.

🔹 Burning Pain

• Une sensation de brûlure – Burning sensation

Common with acid reflux or nerve pain:

J’ai une sensation de brûlure dans la poitrine.I have a burning sensation in my chest.

🔹 Stabbing Pain

• Une douleur lancinante – Stabbing / throbbing pain

Example:

C’est une douleur lancinante qui va et vient.It’s a stabbing pain that comes and goes.

🔹 Throbbing Pain

• Une douleur pulsatile – Throbbing pain

Often used for migraines:

La douleur est pulsatile.The pain is throbbing.

🔹 Cramping Pain

• Des crampes

• Une douleur en crampe

Example:

J’ai des crampes abdominales.

I have abdominal cramps.

2. How to Describe Location of Pain

Precision matters in medical French.

Instead of pointing, you can say:

• Dans le bas du dos – Lower back

• Dans la poitrine – In the chest

• Du côté droit/gauche – On the right/left side

• Au niveau de… – At the level of… (very common in medical contexts)

Example:

La douleur est au niveau du genou droit.The pain is in my right knee.

3. Describing Duration & Frequency

Doctors will always ask:

Depuis quand ? (Since when?)

Here’s how to answer.

🔹 Duration

• Depuis ce matin – Since this morning

• Depuis trois jours – For three days

• Depuis une semaine – For a week

• Ça a commencé hier. – It started yesterday.

Important structure:

• Depuis + present tense

J’ai mal depuis deux jours.

🔹 Sudden vs Gradual

• C’est apparu soudainement. – It appeared suddenly.

• C’est venu progressivement. – It came on gradually.

  
  

🔹 Frequency

• En permanence – Constantly

• De temps en temps – Occasionally

• Ça va et ça vient. – It comes and goes.

• Par crises – In episodes/attacks

Example:

La douleur est constante.The pain is constant.

4. Describing Severity: The 1–10 Scale

In many French consultations, doctors ask:

Sur une échelle de 1 à 10, combien ?

Here’s how to respond:

• C’est à 3 sur 10. – It’s a 3 out of 10.

• Je dirais 8 sur 10. – I’d say 8 out of 10.

• C’est insupportable. – It’s unbearable.

• C’est supportable. – It’s manageable.

You can also say:

• Très intense – Very intense

• Modérée – Moderate

• Légère – Mild

5. Digestive Symptoms in French

Digestive complaints are among the most common reasons people need to explain symptoms in French.

🔹 Stomach Pain

• J’ai mal au ventre. – My stomach hurts.

• J’ai des douleurs abdominales. – I have abdominal pain.

🔹 Nausea & Vomiting

• J’ai des nausées. – I feel nauseous.

• J’ai vomi. – I vomited.

• J’ai envie de vomir. – I feel like vomiting.

🔹 Diarrhea & Constipation

• J’ai la diarrhée. – I have diarrhea.

• Je suis constipé(e). – I’m constipated

  
  

Be careful: constipé does not mean “congested.” It means constipated.

🔹 Bloating

• Je me sens ballonné(e). – I feel bloated.

🔹 Acid Reflux

• J’ai des brûlures d’estomac. – I have heartburn.

6. Respiratory Symptoms in French

Especially relevant post-COVID, respiratory clarity is crucial.

🔹 Cough

• J’ai une toux sèche. – I have a dry cough.

• J’ai une toux grasse. – I have a chesty/productive cough.

🔹 Shortness of Breath

• J’ai du mal à respirer. – I have difficulty breathing.

• Je suis essoufflé(e). – I’m short of breath.

🔹 Sore Throat

• J’ai mal à la gorge.

🔹 Fever

• J’ai de la fièvre. – I have a fever.

• J’ai 38,5 de fièvre. – My temperature is 38.5°C.

7. Neurological Symptoms in French

These require precision.

🔹 Headache

• J’ai mal à la tête. – I have a headache.

• Une migraine – A migraine

Example:

Je pense que c’est une migraine.

🔹 Dizziness

• J’ai des vertiges. – I feel dizzy.

Important:

• Vertige implies spinning sensation.

• Étourdissement suggests lightheadedness.

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🔹 Numbness & Tingling

• Un engourdissement – Numbness

• Des fourmillements – Tingling (pins and needles)

Example:

J’ai des fourmillements dans les mains.

🔹 Confusion

• Je me sens confus(e).

• J’ai des troubles de la concentration.

8. What NOT to Say: Dangerous False Friends

This is where misunderstandings happen  -  especially in medical translation.

Here are common mistakes English speakers make:

❌ “Je suis sensible.”

In French, this means emotionally sensitive  -  not physically sensitive to pain.

Correct:

• Je suis sensible à la lumière. (I’m sensitive to light.)

  
  

❌ “Je suis intoxiqué.”

This implies poisoning or severe intoxication  -  not mild food poisoning.

Correct:

• J’ai une intoxication alimentaire.

  
  

❌ “Je suis constipé” (when you mean congested)

As mentioned earlier, this means constipated.

If you’re congested:

• J’ai le nez bouché.

❌ “Je suis malade” (alone)

This is vague. Doctors need specifics. Instead, add symptoms:

Je suis malade. J’ai de la fièvre et une toux sèche.

9. Why Precision Matters in Medical French

French medical consultations tend to be structured and symptom-driven. Doctors expect:

• Clear timeline

• Specific pain description

• Severity rating

• Associated symptoms

Unlike casual conversation, medical French is more precise and formal.

This is particularly important when:

• Translating medical reports

• Completing hospital intake forms

• Interpreting patient histories

• Communicating chronic conditions

Small vocabulary differences can change diagnosis implications.

For example:

• Douleur thoracique (chest pain)

• Oppression thoracique (chest tightness)

These are not interchangeable in a cardiology context.

10. When You Need More Than Vocabulary

Knowing phrases is one thing. Translating medical meaning accurately is another.

Medical language requires:

• Terminology accuracy

• Cultural nuance

• Understanding of healthcare systems

• Awareness of diagnostic implications

A mistranslated symptom in a medical report isn’t just awkward  -  it can affect treatment decisions, insurance claims, or legal documentation.

That’s why professional French–English medical translation isn’t about word-for-word conversion. It’s about clinical precision.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “How do I describe symptoms in French?”

• “What are the right French medical phrases for pain?”

• “How do I explain my condition clearly to a French doctor?”

Now you have the foundation. Remember to be specific, describe the pain, mention the duration, level of severity and try to avoid any nasty false friends!  If you’ve been issued a prescription, French blood test results or a GP letter and need an accurate French to English medical translation for an insurance claim or for your GP back home, then get in touch today for a free quote.